N2 Strong Negative

~っこない: meaning, usage and examples

~っこない means: there's no way... / impossible...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. こんな難むずかしい問題もんだい、解とけっこない。

   There's no way I can solve such a difficult problem.

2. 一日いちにちでこの仕事しごとが終おわりっこない。

   There's no way this work will be finished in one day.

3. 今いまから走はしっても、終電しゅうでんに間まに合あいっこないよ。

   Even if we run now, there's no way we'll make the last train.

4. 親おやに話はなしたって、分わかりっこない。

   Even if I tell my parents, there's no way they'll understand.

When to use it

A casual "there is no way" something will happen or can be done. 宝たからくじなんて当あたりっこない means "There is no way I will win the lottery." Very often with potential verbs: できっこない, 分わかりっこない, 勝かてっこない. Used to express a strong personal conviction among friends and family.

Nuance

Very casual, spoken only. It is subjective and emotional rather than reasoned. Not used in writing, polite speech or business. It attaches to the ます-stem: 勝かてる becomes 勝かてっこない.

Compare

わけがない is neutral and logical: そんな話はなし、本当ほんとうのわけがない. はずがない is based on reasons: 鍵かぎをかけたから、開あいているはずがない. っこない is the casual, emotional choice between friends: そんなの、できっこないよ. The first two work in polite speech; っこない does not.

Tip: Learn the three common forms: できっこない, 分わかりっこない, 勝かてっこない. In a meeting, switch to はずがない.